Late own goal sees us return to winning ways in the WSL

A strike from Bethany England and an own goal from Camila Saez completed a second half turnaround to see us return to winning ways in the Barclays Women’s Super League with a 2-1 win over West Ham United.

Having fallen behind in the closing stages of the first half at Brisbane Road through Riko Ueki’s header, we needed an urgent response after the break and we got that from Bethany England who fired home from close-range to double her tally for the campaign.

Both sides were searching for a winner as the clock ticked towards the full-time whistle, the visitors striking the woodwork while we were denied on a few occasions by Kinga Szemik, but, in the first minute of the eight indicated, we took the lead as Lenna Gunning-Williams’ pressure forced Saez to send the ball over Szemik and into the back of her own net, earning our first win in the league since the season opener against Crystal Palace.

Robert Vilahamn made two changes to the starting XI that faced Chelsea in our previous encounter in the WSL, with Martha Thomas returning in the place of Olga Ahtinen and defender Ella Morris making her first competitive start in our colours, while midfielder Shuang Wang was named in the matchday squad for the first time this season.

Looking for a response following the international break, having lost our last three in the WSL, we started positively in east London, England firing an effort over the bar from left area of the box before Jess Naz's ball across the face of the goal was forced over her own bar by Amber Tysiak. Morris was causing a few problems down the right hand side, where we won seven corners throughout the first half, but we failed to capitalise on those.

We did have the ball in the back of the net just before half-hour mark, England converting from close range, but the assistant referee’s flag was up for offside in the build-up. However, with their first chance of the game, the visitors broke the deadlock eight minutes before the break as Ueki rose highest to Asseyi’s corner to send her header off the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net.

A quick start was needed after the break and we certainly received that as, six minutes into the second half, England converted from point-blank range to fire us level after Thomas was denied by Szemik followed by Matilda Vinberg striking the inside the post on the rebound, but our captain was there to eventually tuck the ball home. England looked to double her tally shortly after but failed to direct Vinberg’s lofted cross on target, while defender Clare Hunt, fresh from scoring her first international goal, sent a header narrowly wide from a free-kick.

The visitors were inches away from retaking the lead with five minutes left on the clock, although a bit of fortune, as Ueki’s mis-hit shot looped into the air and towards goal, but Becky Spencer was alert to tip the ball on to the crossbar while Anouk Denton fired a half-volley attempt from around 20 yards out past the far post.

There was plenty of time to secure a late winner when the fourth official indicated eight minutes of added time and, in the first minute of those, a long ball over the top forced Saez to face her own goal, while under-pressure from Gunning-Williams, and could only lift her attempted clearance high over the on-rushing Szemik and into the back of the net. That victory at Brisbane Road secured a much-needed three points in the league ahead of Friday night's trip to Manchester City.

Match data

Goals: Spurs – England 51, Saez OG 90+2; West Ham – Ueki 37

Yellow cards: Spurs – Neville 38, Hunt 73, Summanen 41; West Ham – Ueki 40, Asseyi 84

Referee: Melissa Burgin.

Stadium: Brisbane Road.

Weather: Cloudy with a gentle breeze, 14 degrees

Attendance: 1614.